The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-05-19

| was nreu aU sunrise at washington DarrackE
in honor of the day that witnessed the un-
yelling Of the statue Of Garfield erected by
the society OF the Army of the Cumberland.
At 10 o'clock this morning the members Of
the society met at the Arlington hotel, and
thence marched TO the new Grand Army Of
the Republic hall. Here the procession was
formed and took up the line Of March at
| 11:30, the District militia and the various
G. A. R. posts participating with the veter-
ans of the society in the parade.
Long before noon the streets leading to the
| junction Of First street and Maryland avenue
were packed with people A solid phalanx
| twenty deep were ranged on the sidewalks
that circled the space, in the center Of which
| the yelled statue rested on its granite base.
At IL o'clock sharp the grand stand Waa
thrown open and the invited guests were
quickly assigned to seats. Among the Arsi
| to arrive we're the SONS Of Gen. fairfield, the
Hon. W. W. Corcoran and Judge Hagner.
Secretary Bayard and Attorney General
Garland were the first members of the cab
met to arriv> They were followed by Chief
Justice Waite and the associate justices Of
| the supreme court.
At o'clock the president, accompanied by
Gen. Sheridan, arrived. simultaneously the
van guard Of the procession appeared in
quick march from Pennsylvania avenue.
Col. Wilson then announced that the pro-
ceedings would be opened with prayer by the
Rev. 8. H. Giesyd, D.D. After Mr.. Giesyd
had con nHluded his prayer, the "Star Spangled
Banner" was very effectively rendered by the
full marine band As the last note died
away, at twenty minutes past o'clock, the
\ American flag which had covered the statue
was quickly dragged away. The salute from
the south front Of the capitol was then fired,
after which Gen. Sheridan introduced the
orator Of the day, Hon. J. Warren Keifer,
and elaborate eulogium.
Gen. Keifer, in his address at the unveiling
of the statue, said that the statue lis mainly
tribute from Garfeld's immediate compan-
| ions Of the army of the Cumberland, with
which he served and in which as chief Of
staff he bore so conspicuous part"
After describing the pedestal and the statue
the speaker said that to be great in Garheld's
1 time required higher moral and mental
qualities than were requisite in any other era
| of the worlds history" In describing the
circumstances that surround the generation
Of Ameri ans now passing away, the speaker
said:
''More is expected more Is required and
more is essential to make a good citizen Of
our constitutional free government than is
or was ever expected and required or is or
| ever was essential to constitute good citi-
zen or subject of any other government on
earth"
He then applied this line Of thought to
scholar, soldier and statesman, saying, In
passing, that:
ga single battle Of the rebellion resulted
frequently In more casualties, In either con-
tending army, than in all the campaigns Of
some former prolonged wars. The killed
and wounded in single brigade during the
war frequently outnumbered the American
killed and wounded in the seven years Of the
| revolution. Many of the comrades now be-
fore mo saw more Of the terrors of bloody
conflict in a single day than were witnessed
in the whole military life Of Gen. Washing
tom
he then We q sketch of Garfeld's life,
dwelling MOI. particularly upon his military
record In this connection he read the fol-
lowing letter, written by Garfield to friend
at the outbreak of the war:
~ have (he says had curious interest in
watching the process in my own mind, by
which the fabric Of my mind is being demol-
ished and reconstructed to meet the new
condition Of affairs One by oneimy old plans
and aims, modes Of thought and feeling, are
found to be inconsistent with present duty,
and are set aside to give place to the new
structure Of military Life. 1t is not without
regret, almost fearful at times, that look
upon the ruins. But If, as the result Of the
broken plans and shattered individual lives
Of thousands Of American citizens we can
geo, on the ruins Of our National errors, q
new and enduring fabric arise, based on
larger freedom and higher justice, 1t VIII be
small sacrifice indeed. For myself l am
| contented with such prospect, and regard
| ing my life as given to the country, am only
anxious to make as much Of it as possible
before the mortgage upon it is foreclosed."
OF Garflelds method and power az q
| speaker Gen. Keifer said:
"It was his singular good fortune to be
| able to think and come up to his supremest
intellectual strength ON his feet, under the
excitement Of public speech, rather than
with his pen when in his seat. His speeches
were not distinguished for forid rhetorical
display, but rather for strong, concise state
4 ments which in themselves were better than
| ordinary arguments. Facts well summar
| lied he knew the value Of and therefore
used them as the basis Of all his oratorica
l powers. Often his best friends appealed tc
| him not to correct the notes Of his speeches
| lest In his desire to conform his language To
the highest standard Of refined rhetoric and
| purest dlction, he would leave them shorn oi
some portion of their power and strength.
Garfield was by nature left handed, and
sometimes on great occasions when he rosS
10 speak, he at first seemed awkward. Thil
eN disappeared as his genius flushed out In
his felvid, uiasterly treatment OF his subjoc&
He then appeared an oratorical giant--o
superb human machine In action, delightful
" behold. His gestures were mainly with
his open, uplifted land, and made emphatic
By striking it down, sometimes clenched,
into his open, upturned right hand. BE had
q magnificent voice--resonant, well modur
latsd, fu.l, under complete control, capabll
on occasions Of great vehemence, yet always
pleasant to the ear"
After mentioning that It was Garaeldi
custom "to refer to the old hall Of the Housl
OF Repre- sntatives in the Capitol, which oon.
tains SO many marble statues Of Americat
1lu trio Is men, as The third House wherein
the deal spoke,'n he added that" due -irne,
a. this nation grows older, the forest Of
statues of $40 distinguished dead gathered In
this benusg :, city will be spoken OF as the
i -, 4. =. A.. -. t;-v.1.